Browsing by Author "Reiman, Tony"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Comparative Analysis of Cytokine Levels in Multiple Myeloma Patients: Implications for Natural Killer Cells and Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
    (University of New Brunswick, 2024-04) Lee, Sungmok; Reiman, Tony
    Multiple myeloma (MM) is a lethal cancer affecting bone marrow (BM) plasma cells, with dysregulated natural killer (NK) cells and cytokine production contributing to disease progression. Monoclonal antibody therapies (mAbs) can induce NK cell responses against tumours, which can potentially be enhanced by cytokine manipulation. This study evaluates cytokine levels in MM patients’ blood compared to the blood of healthy controls (CTR) and the BM of MM patients to assess their potential as therapeutic targets. Using Bio-Plex profiling, eight cytokines (IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, IFN-γ, and TGF-β1) were quantified. Significant differences in cytokine profiles were observed between MM patients and CTR, as well as between MM patients' blood and BM. These findings underscore cytokines’ potential role in MM progression, emphasizing them as potential therapeutic targets. The study lays the groundwork for future research aimed at modulating the cytokine network in MM to augment NK cell responsiveness to mAbs.
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    Evaluating additional genomic variants identified by a 52 gene panel used for identification of actionable mutations in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancers
    (University of New Brunswick, 2024-08) Varty, Kathleen Mary; Reiman, Tony
    Lung cancer leads global cancer mortality. Much of North America now employs next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patient cancer mutational profiling. This approach identifies driver mutations, typically non-synonymous somatic alterations altering protein coding. Recent findings suggest clinical relevance of synonymous mutations, traditionally disregarded for not altering protein sequences. Yet, their prevalence and clinical implications remain underexplored. This study analyzes genomic data and clinical outcomes for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer patients sequenced at the Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick. Canada from January 2019 to January 2023. Nine possibly pathogenic synonymous variants are identified. Additionally, the clinical variant distribution and impact of an expanded gene panel are explored. This research underscores the potential significance of synonymous mutations in cancer and expands on the current knowledge base.
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    Genetic biomarkers for personalized treatment in multiple myeloma
    (University of New Brunswick, 2016) Han, Ming; Reiman, Tony
    Multiple myeloma is an incurable haematological cancer characterized by the accumulation of monoclonal plasma cells inside the bone marrow. Melphalan and Thalidomide are two drugs that have dramatically improved patient survival. However, a significant subpopulation of myeloma patients does not respond to these drugs; in addition, some patients are predisposed to drug-related toxicities, which remains unpredictable. Using samples from the MY.10 randomized clinical trial with an observation arm, the present study found several single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic biomarkers to be predictive of thalidomide treatment benefit and thalidomide related toxicity (peripheral neuropathy). In addition, the present study also confirmed previous findings where several SNPs were also found to be predictive of melphalan response. Lastly, novel SNPs were found to be associated with myeloma prognosis. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that genetic biomarkers can be useful in predicting drug response and prognosis in myeloma. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
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    Investigation of in-air vocal communication between harbour seals (phoca vitulina)
    (University of New Brunswick, 1992) Reiman, Tony
    Female harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) keep track of their pups by following the vocalizations the pups make. The maximum communication distance possible between the seals when communicating in the air over the sea surface was investigated and found to be about 320 metres. This value was found through the use of experimental data collected, which included sound speed profiles over the sea surface, and transmission losses of pure tones over the sea surface. The solll1d speed profiles were used in a computer model of sound transmission. The predictions of the model did not accurately reproduce the observed transmission losses, at least partly because the sound speed data were not accurate. However, physical information was obtained through the use of the computer model.
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    Monitoring lung cancer response to therapy via exosomal miRNA profiling
    (University of New Brunswick, 2021) Stanton, Joshua Nicholas; Reiman, Tony; Murugesan, Alli
    Treatment for lung cancers can be difficult due to the aggressive nature of the disease and the current challenge posed by the expensive, invasive, and potentially unreliable monitoring of therapy response via computed tomography (CT) scans. In recent years, blood exosomal miRNA has been used to search for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and suggests an interesting potential alternative monitoring method through blood sampling as a form of "liquid biopsy". In small studies, miRNAs have previously demonstrated prognostic value in cancer patients receiving a given therapy; however, the value of serial blood exosomal miRNA profiling in assessing treatment response has not been well studied. Through the use of exosomes extracted from the blood plasma of 45 lung cancer patients and TaqMan Array PCR miRNA analysis, we show a panel of four exosomal miRNAs that may be beneficial in determining treatment response in lung cancer patients. Exosomal miRNAs miR-181c-3p, miR-500a-3p, miR-99a-5p, and miR-10b-5p were significantly upregulated in the lung cancer cohort before treatment as compared to controls, and miR-181c-3p was significantly downregulated after treatment. However, we were unable to detect a correlation between changes in exosomal miRNA profiles post treatment and clinical response to therapy, in part due to the small size of the study and the challenges of assessing response to therapy using CT scans. This study has provided the groundwork for further evaluation of an exosomal miRNA panel to monitor treatment response in advanced lung cancer. The study has also generated hypotheses regarding miRNA families as lung cancer biomarkers, to be further investigated.